Spin Control: Eve-ning Shade

Angela Eve enjoys playing in burlesque shows, and that’s because she sees burlesque as a good platform to combine her interest in visual arts and stripping into an art form and sensual expression.

Eve and her troop of performers have been playing at the Admiral Theatre and at
Debonair Social Club in February and March as part of Chicago’s first burlesque festival, which Angela organized, and they’ll perform on March 27 at their last festival show at Debonair.
Talking about the festival’s final Debonair shindig, Eve says, “It’s a great environment for people to come to a really fun show that’s sexy and also user-friendly.”

The show will feature local burlesque talent and acts from around country, and about forty percent of proceeds will be donated to the MAKE IT RIGHT NOLA organization, which is trying to rebuild the ninth ward, the area in New Orleans hit hard by Hurricane Katrina.

Eve says the show will offer a good sample of different burlesque styles, and she says, “It has so many elements going on.”

It’ll be a multimedia spectacle: Features of vintage striptease shows will be projected on one wall. In addition, photos taken by Eve and partner Anastasios Ketsios that document New Orleans ninth-ward residents’ struggles will be projected on another wall. Meanwhile several upright boxes featuring lit-up pictures of Eve’s troop will line one wall of the club. Eve and Lola Martinet will perform an aerial strip tease. Performing alongside Eve will be Trixie Minx and Fleur de Tease from New Orleans.

Eve says she hopes that, because of the festival, Chicago will learn to enjoy burlesque more. In the meantime she says that each woman’s individual stage presence, creativity and costuming make the festival’s burlesque shows more theatrical and enjoyable to watch. (Mary Susan Littlepage)

The Glitter Glamour Party at Debonair Social Club, 1575 North Milwaukee, (773)227-7990, on March 27, 9pm-2am. $12 before 10pm, $15 after. Visit angelaevestwistedtasselfest.com for more info.